Population 4,612 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Onalaska
Household size in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.68 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.17 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.68 people per household, Onalaska sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.51 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.6 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.3 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.9 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Onalaska skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.6% of households in Onalaska, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Onalaska
Renters in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.3% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.9% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Onalaska is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 29.5% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Onalaska: 6.4% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across Washington.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Onalaska are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $645 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $750 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $860 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $923 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$278 | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in Onalaska pays $923 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 22.6% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Onalaska
Bachelor's degrees in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Onalaska: 14.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.1% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.6% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.8% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Onalaska have finished high school as nationally: 88.8%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Washington as a whole (91.9%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Onalaska
| Period | Onalaska | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.6% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.9%, unemployment in Onalaska is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Washington as a whole (5.1%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Onalaska compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onalaska | 2.68 | 44.8 | 7.6% | 21.9% | 6.4% | 1980 | $923 | 14.3% | 88.8% | 5.9% |
| Ethel | 2.64 | 46.8 | 2.3% | 22.8% | 6.4% | 1984 | $682 | 17.0% | 88.3% | 2.5% |
| Salkum | 2.23 | 54.6 | 2.3% | 11.8% | 6.4% | 1981 | $745 | 17.6% | 84.7% | 0.1% |
| Marys Corner | 2.73 | 39.0 | 12.5% | 17.7% | 2.9% | 1983 | $1,105 | 15.4% | 94.0% | 5.5% |
| Cinebar | 2.48 | 48.0 | 7.1% | 25.8% | 3.9% | 1981 | $879 | 14.4% | 84.0% | 4.7% |
| Silver Creek | 2.41 | 45.3 | 6.9% | 23.9% | 14.3% | 1985 | $1,071 | 21.1% | 91.3% | 3.0% |
| Napavine | 2.68 | 43.0 | 6.2% | 14.2% | 1.5% | 1992 | $1,311 | 16.3% | 89.0% | 4.9% |
| St. Urbans | 2.88 | 39.7 | 20.5% | 6.5% | 0.1% | 1990 | $1,347 | 15.1% | 95.7% | 8.4% |
| Mossyrock | 2.40 | 45.6 | 6.3% | 20.3% | 17.9% | 1986 | $910 | 19.4% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
| Toledo | 2.58 | 49.0 | 5.4% | 13.4% | 9.0% | 1986 | $856 | 22.6% | 93.0% | 5.5% |
| Newaukum | 2.90 | 42.5 | 8.9% | 23.6% | 7.1% | 1980 | $1,122 | 23.2% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jefferson, SC · Pottsville, AR · Sissonville, WV · North Terre Haute, IN · Moonachie, NJ · Monrovia, IN · Leonard, MI · Leo, IN · Homestead, PA · Helenwood, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Onalaska. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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